36/19. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4003 — Charity and Seeking Forgiveness
The tribulation of women
Hadith About Charity and Istighfar for Women
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4003
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4003
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " يَا مَعْشَرَ النِّسَاءِ تَصَدَّقْنَ وَأَكْثِرْنَ مِنَ الاِسْتِغْفَارِ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُنَّ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ " . فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ جَزْلَةٌ وَمَا لَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ قَالَ " تُكْثِرْنَ اللَّعْنَ وَتَكْفُرْنَ الْعَشِيرَ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ نَاقِصَاتِ عَقْلٍ وَدِينٍ أَغْلَبَ لِذِي لُبٍّ مِنْكُنَّ " . قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا نُقْصَانُ الْعَقْلِ وَالدِّينِ قَالَ " أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ الْعَقْلِ فَشَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَعْدِلُ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلٍ فَهَذَا مِنْ نُقْصَانِ الْعَقْلِ وَتَمْكُثُ اللَّيَالِيَ مَا تُصَلِّي وَتُفْطِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا مِنْ نُقْصَانِ الدِّينِ " .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O women, give in charity and pray a great deal for forgiveness, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.” A woman who was very wise said: “Why is it, O Messenger of Allah, that we form the majority of the people of Hell?” He said: “You curse a great deal and you are ungrateful to your husbands, and I have never seen anyone lacking in discernment and religion more overwhelming to a man of wisdom than you.”She said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is this lacking in discernment and religion?” He said: “The lack of discernment is the fact that the testimony of two women is equal to the testimony of one man; this is the lack of reason. And (a woman) spends several nights when she does not pray, and she does not fast in Ramadhan, and this is the lack in religion.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4003In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 78English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4003
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4003
This Hadith about charity and istighfar speaks in a serious but practical way. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed women and told them to give in charity and ask Allah for forgiveness often. He then explained reasons mentioned in the narration: frequent cursing and ingratitude toward husbands. A wise woman asked for more explanation, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained what was meant by lacking in discernment and religion in this specific text. The Hadith should be read with care and without adding claims that are not stated here. Its clear teaching is that speech, gratitude, prayer, fasting, charity, and seeking forgiveness all matter. It turns attention toward self-correction instead of blame.
What we learn from this hadith
- Charity and asking forgiveness are encouraged as practical acts of worship.
- The text warns against frequent cursing and ingratitude within marriage.
- Questions about religious teaching can be asked respectfully, as the woman did.
- The narration connects worship habits with accountability before Allah.
